South

Exe ladies 1

Okehampton ladies’ firsts 6

A DETERMINED and focused Okehampton side travelled to face Exe, hoping to improve on the draw resulting from their last encounter and end the undeserved goal drought they had been experiencing.

Joint player of the match Ellie Jenkins opened the scoring almost immediately with a top D strike, which turned out to be the first of many. Spurred on, Oke maintained their pressure and were again rewarded when good advantage from the umpires led to Amanda Sim collecting a high rebound and smashing it past the keeper.

Oke settled into excellent team play with Jess Moyse once again showing off her incredible work rate on and off the ball, hassling the Exe players and freeing the ball for captain Sophie Whiteley in the midfield. Whiteley found Kim Davey speeding up the wing who continued her run all the way into the D and looked poised to strike — fooling all the opposition defence and keeper — before selflessly slipping the ball to Jenkins allowing her to fire home her second. Davey was rewarded shortly after with a goal of her own, rattling the backboard at the far post as the visitors went into the break 4-0 up.

Exe rallied forcing more defensive play from Oke, but with Abi Colton at left back working with joint man of the match Hannah Gibbons and wing Ellie Shayler to guide the ball out of defence, defensive play was turned into attack.

Wing Emily Rowlands left the Exe defence standing with her weaving runs, pairing with Lesley Bingham to further pressure the Exe D. Davey kept the crosses coming and her efforts paid off with a beautiful deflection from Sim on the back post and also a direct strike of her own adding a further two to Oke’s tally.

Exe were, however, fast on the break, forcing defenders Nicky Pedrick and Laura Parsons into the fray, ably directed by goalkeeper Alice Wiseman.

A penalty corner brought a well worked goal for Exe; however, it was too little too late and Okehampton stormed to an excellent 6-1 win.